Taste of the NFL "Drop-Off" Party with Celebrity Chef Kent Rathbun and Heritage Auction Galleries

On Tuesday January 18th, my wife Lisa and I had the opportunity to attend the VIP Silent Auction “Drop-Off” party for the Taste of the NFL, a charity event hosted by Heritage Auction Galleries’ Heather Walther - Director of Business Development, and Celebrity Chef Kent Rathbun, of Abacus, Jasper’s, Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen, and Zea Woodfire Grill (Chef Rathbun also upset Bobby Flay to win Food TV’s Iron Chef, in February of 2008).


Noah, Lauren, me, and Lisa


Diedre and Heather


Lisa and Lauren

The “Drop-Off” party was held at Chef Rathbun’s Swanky Uptown Digs, the Aqua Lounge at The Flats on Park Ln., as a precursor to the Heritage Galleries-hosted auction that will be held on February 6th at the $500 to $600 per-plate Taste of the NFL dinner, at the Ft. Worth Convention Center. The event raises money for food banks across the country and the dinner is prepared by top chefs, from each city in which the NFL has a team based. The evening culminates in a concert by country music star Martina McBride, and this year the charity hopes to raise a record $1,000,000; a lofty, but reachable goal to be sure.


Me and Noah

Several of Heritage’s Board members were in attendance including Paul Minshull and Todd Imhof, as well as Dallas artists Andy Morris who kindly donated a stunning painting and Kay Miller Wyne who created the wonderful collage piece “Cheers to Twenty Years,” to be used as the cover art for the event. Also on hand from Heritage were Noah Fleisher, Director of Public Relations, and his lovely wife Lauren, Debbie Rexing, Vice President of Marketing, and Cosignment Directors Diedre Buchmoyer and Mark Jordan.


Kay Miller Wyne (left) with "Cheers to Twenty Years"


Andy Morris' hand (glass half full!)

Cocktail appetizers included flaked smoked salmon on crostinis with lemon mouse and capers, mini brisket tacos in multi colored shells, savory parmesan toast rounds, and chicken pesto on butter crackers. Sweet offerings included the best version of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup that I’ve ever had; a dark chocolate cup filled with peanut butter mouse and topped with something akin to mini cocoa puffs, and Key lime tartlets. Some nice wines and a good strong drink made from Buffalo Trace bourbon, ginger ale, and grapefruit juice were the libations for the evening.



A good time was had by all and we saw a number of classy items dropped off for the auction, including a couple of paintings, few antiques, and sundry objets d’art. If the pre-party is any indication of the event to come, I expect some great food to be had, with nothing but glowing reviews, and more than $1,000,000 in the food bank kitty!

I'd like to thank potographer Tessa MacLeod for allowing me the use of all of these great images. Please look her up if you need a roaming photographer for any event. Her website is http://www.tessamacleodphotography.net/.

Greg